Charged-Up Campus

CHARGED-UP CAMPUS

Aggieland and the 12th Man are buzzing in anticipation of Saturday's game with Alabama

by Casey Atnip '14Texas A&M Football Show

There is electricity in the College Station air.

A buzz around campus.

What is being billed as the biggest game in the history of Kyle Field will take place this Saturday.

"This was the first campus environment I ever experienced for GameDay, and it was awesome."

- Samantha Ponder, ESPN

The Maroon and White will host the No. 1 team in the nation, and the Aggies are ready to show the nation the power of the 12th Man.

On the first day of student ticket pull, over 15,000 students stood in line for their pass to history.

“I’ve been here since 3:30 yesterday,” one student said early Monday morning.

Talking with others on the first day of pull, it was evident that this was not any other week.

“This is a whole new level.”

“I’ve never seen it this crowded.”

“The atmosphere is going to be ridiculous. The 12th Man is going to be louder than ever.”

The excitement has poured all over campus as the 12th Man prepares for Saturday’s main event.

“In the college football landscape, there’s big games per week and there’s big games per year,” Toates said. “This is one of those dates that you circle on your calendar.”

Students walking around the Memorial Student Center are preparing themselves for Saturday as well.

“The 12th Man, we’re unlike any school in the nation,” one said. “We’re going to be as loud as possible and we’re going to show the world who we are as Aggies. We’re going to be loud.”

The students are not the only ones charged for this epic match up. Media from around the country are settling in to College Station in historic proportions.

“I don’t think there are any national media left around the country,” said Jason Cook, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. “They are all coming to Aggieland this weekend. And I think it looks to the attention we’re receiving…I’d say that Texas A&M is relevant now. We are relevant on the national scene. People want to come and talk about Texas A&M.”

To record this piece of history, ESPN GameDay has set up camp at Simpson Drill Field.

“This was the first campus environment I ever experienced for GameDay, and it was awesome,” ESPN’s Samantha Ponder said. “There is more hype and excitement around this Alabama football game then there’s probably been for any game A&M has ever played. And I’m confident the 12th Man will come through.”

CBS will broadcast from Kyle Field for the first time since 1989.

“All eyes will be on Aggieland this weekend,” Cook said. “Never before have we had this much attention on Texas A&M. The spotlight is on us like never before and we want to make sure people see a tremendous football program, a lot of great student-athletes, a returning Heisman Trophy winner, Coach Kevin Sumlin…but we also want them to see this world-class institution that has unmatched traditions, passion and spirit. You won’t find it anywhere else.”

Check local listings for the station and air time near you. The Texas A&M Football Show airs every Thursday and Sunday evening throughout the Aggie football season on FOX Sports Southwest and the CW Aggieland. Click here to watch archived shows online.